AMERICAN LIFE

How Young Men Can Improve Their Futures

(NAPSI)—Many high school and college students and their families don’t
realize it, but the road to a good education and career can begin with a
single, simple step: registering with the Selective Service.

Why You Should Register

That’s because registration is required to be eligible for a number
of valuable benefits. They include:

• Federal job training programs. The Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act offers programs that can train young
men seeking vocational employment or enhancing their career. This program is
open only to those men who have registered with Selective Service.

• Millions of jobs, including all federal jobs, Postal Service jobs,
many state jobs, and an increasing number of contractor jobs.

• Security clearance background investigations for government and
some contractor jobs verify whether men are in compliance with federal law,
including having registered with the Selective Service System, before hiring
them.

• In most states you must register if you want a driver’s
license.

• If a male immigrant (documented or undocumented) fails to
register, he may be denied citizenship until he is 31 years old.

What’s more, registration is a civic and patriotic duty. When a man
registers, he shows his national pride and commitment to stand in support of
his country and the all-volunteer military.

What Can Happen If You Don’t

On the other hand, failure to register is a violation of the law and could
carry heavy fines or even jail time. Also, anyone who knowingly helps someone
to fail to comply is subject to the same penalties.

While the Department of Justice is not prosecuting anybody right now, the
law remains on the books.

How You Can Register

Fortunately, registration with the Selective Service is easy. You can do
it several ways.